Big Books of 2026

2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

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2025 Personal Challenge: 76-100 > Martha☀'s 86 Books and Reviews of 2025

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message 1: by Martha☀ (last edited Dec 10, 2024 03:19PM) (new)
Dec 02, 2024 06:25PM

Martha☀ | 263 comments I will read, rate and review more than 85 books this year.
I'll keep tally of monthly reads and each review here.

Other stuff, like challenge progress, annual stats, and committed reads, I keep on my Member's Corner page


message 2: by Martha☀ (last edited Feb 09, 2025 01:32PM) (new)
Dec 02, 2024 07:00PM

Martha☀ | 263 comments January
11/86

1. 04 January You Are Here by David Nicholls You Are Here
4⭐ My Review
Tags: audio, library, general, love

2. 08 January Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner Crying in H Mart
3 ⭐ My Review
Tags: memoir, biography, cooking

3. 09 January Normal People by Sally Rooney Normal People
3⭐ My Review
Tags - general, audio

4. 11 January Wordhunter by Stella Sands Wordhunter
1⭐ My Review
Tags - crap, mystery,

5. 14 January The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson The Christmas Guest
4⭐ My Review
Tags - mystery,

6. 17 January The Searcher by Tana French The Searcher
4⭐ My Review
Tags - general, audio, mystery

7. 21 January Fight Night by Miriam Toews Fight Night
5⭐ My Review
Tags - canadian,

8. 25 January Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl Danny, the Champion of the World
4⭐ My Review
Tags - general,

9. 26 January Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
2⭐ My Review
Tags - general,

10. 28 January The Orenda (Bird Family Trilogy, #3) by Joseph Boyden The Orenda
5⭐ My Review
Tags - Indigenous, Canadian, historical, cultural

11. 31 January Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro Signal Fires
3.5⭐ My Review
Tags - general,


message 3: by Lisa (new)
Dec 11, 2024 04:46AM

Lisa Grønsund | 6163 comments I always really enjoy your setup, Martha! Looking forward to seeing what the 85 books will be 📚😊.

I hope you have a fantastic 2025! Happy reading 😊


message 4: by Martha☀ (last edited Mar 01, 2025 06:25PM) (new)
Feb 09, 2025 01:31PM

Martha☀ | 263 comments February
18/86

1. 06 February Horse by Geraldine Brooks Horse
5⭐ My Review
Tags: historical, cultural, 5 star, audiobook

2. 11 February We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker We Begin at the End
3.5⭐ My Review
Tags: mystery, police, audio

3. 12 February The Pursuit of Endurance Harnessing the Record-Breaking Power of Strength and Resilience by Jennifer Pharr Davis The Pursuit of Endurance: Harnessing the Record-Breaking Power of Strength and Resilience
4⭐ My Review
Tags: athletes, running, adventure

4. 16 February So Much for That by Lionel Shriver So Much for That
4⭐ My Review
Tags: general, medical,

5. 20 February The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills The Restraint of Beasts
5⭐ My Review
Tags: dark humour,

6. 21 February The Testaments (The Handmaid's Tale, #2) by Margaret Atwood The Testaments
4⭐ My Review
Tags: sci-fi, Canadian, dystopian

7. 25 February Trust by Hernan Diaz Trust
4⭐ My Review
Tags: audio, re-read, historical


message 5: by Martha☀ (last edited Apr 11, 2025 08:21AM) (new)
Mar 01, 2025 06:24PM

Martha☀ | 263 comments March
28/86

1. 01 March The Golden Spruce A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed by John Vaillant The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed
3⭐ My Review
Tags: Canadian, Indigenous, non-fiction, historical, cultural

2. 04 March Trust by Hernan Diaz Trust
3⭐ re-read (see above review)

3. 04 March A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House A Parchment of Leaves
3⭐ My Review
Tags: historical

4.07 March Papillon by Henri Charrière Papillon
4⭐ My Review
Tags: historical, non-fiction

5. 07 March The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison The Heart of Winter
5⭐ My Review
Tags: general, aging

6. 13 March Doppelganger A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World
4⭐ My Review
Tags: non-fiction, political, biography, current events

7.16 March The Book of George by Kate Greathead The Book of George
4⭐ My Review
Tags: general

8. 19 March The God of the Woods by Liz Moore The God of the Woods
5⭐ My Review
Tags: mystery, 5 star

9.26 March Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty Big Little Lies
3⭐ My Review
Tags: general,

10. 30 March Day by Michael Cunningham Day
3⭐ My Review
Tags: general


message 6: by Martha☀ (last edited May 01, 2025 05:04PM) (new)
Apr 11, 2025 08:21AM

Martha☀ | 263 comments April
36/86

1. 05 April Harlem Shuffle (Ray Carney, #1) by Colson Whitehead Harlem Shuffle
3⭐ My Review
Tags: historical, heist,

2. 10 April Skippy Dies by Paul Murray Skippy Dies
4+⭐ My Review
Tags: year-of-the-tome, general

3.07 April Earth by John Boyne Earth
5⭐ My Review
Tags: 5 stars, general, series

4. 08 April Careless People A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism
⭐ My Review
Tags: non-fiction, Facebook, whistleblower

5. 14 April The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa The Housekeeper and the Professor
3⭐ My Review
Tags: translation,

6. 21 April Women Talking by Miriam Toews Women Talking
4⭐ My Review
Tags: Canadian, audio,

7. 24 April The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai The Borrower
1⭐ My Review
Tags: crap, lgbtq+

8. 28 April After by Nikki Gemmell After
2⭐ My Review
Tags: biography, death, assisted suicide


message 7: by Martha☀ (last edited Jun 02, 2025 01:28PM) (new)
May 01, 2025 05:06PM

Martha☀ | 263 comments May
44/86

1. 01 May The Boys in the Boat Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
3⭐ My Review
Tags: athletes, historical, non-fiction

2. 02 May What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella What Does It Feel Like?
5⭐ My Review
Tags: biography, audio

3. 14 May City of Thieves by David Benioff City of Thieves
5⭐ My Review
Tags: historical, war,

4. 16 May Small Boat by Vincent Delecroix Small Boat
4.5⭐ My Review
Tags: current events, translated, travel

5. 20 May West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge West With Giraffes
4⭐ My Review
Tags: historical, travel

6. 24 May Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy Wild Dark Shore
3.5⭐ My Review
Tags: dystopian, mystery

7. 27 May The Unseen World by Liz Moore The Unseen World
2.5⭐ My Review
Tags: audio, general, boring

8.28 May Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson Brown Girl Dreaming
5⭐ My Review
Tags: biography, language-writing, cultural, poetry


message 8: by JennH, Cheerleader (new)
Jun 02, 2025 10:50AM

JennH | 1322 comments Hi Martha! You are doing a great job making progress on your goal! I hope you are enjoying your 2025 reads so far and that the rest of the year brings you many more amazing and better books.

Happy reading!


message 9: by Martha☀ (last edited Sep 04, 2025 10:25AM) (new)
Jun 04, 2025 12:35PM

Martha☀ | 263 comments June
50/86

1. 03 June The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles The Lincoln Highway
5⭐ My Review
Tags: audio, year of the tome

2. 14 June The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld The Enchanted
5⭐ My Review
Tags: 5 star, general

3. 14 June Writers & Lovers by Lily King Writers & Lovers
5⭐ My Review
Tags: 5 star, general

4.15 June Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano Hello Beautiful
2⭐ My Review
Tags: crap

5. 22 June What Comes After by JoAnne Tompkins What Comes After
3⭐ My Review
Tags: coming of age

6. 23 June The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox
5⭐ My Review
Tags: 5 stars, historical


message 10: by Martha☀ (last edited Sep 04, 2025 10:24AM) (new)
Aug 06, 2025 03:27PM

Martha☀ | 263 comments August
59/86

1. 06 August Through Black Spruce (Bird Family Trilogy, #2) by Joseph Boyden Through Black Spruce
4⭐ My Review
Tags: indigenous, audio, series

2. 10 August Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy Once There Were Wolves
2⭐ My Review
Tags: dystopian, environment, audio, chick lit

3. 11 August I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb I Know This Much Is True
3⭐ My Review
Tags: general,

4. 18 August Magpie Murders (Susan Ryeland, #1) by Anthony Horowitz Magpie Murders
5⭐ My Review
Tags: mystery, 5 stars

5. 21 August Die with Zero Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life by Bill Perkins Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life
4⭐ My Review
Tags: self-help, financial, audio

6. 22 August Fresh Eggs by Rob Levandoski Fresh Eggs
2⭐ My Review
Tags: farming, food, crap

7. 24 August 100 Essays I Don't Have Time to Write On Umbrellas and Sword Fights, Parades and Dogs, Fire Alarms, Children, and Theater by Sarah Ruhl 100 Essays I Don't Have Time to Write: On Umbrellas and Sword Fights, Parades and Dogs, Fire Alarms, Children, and Theater
2⭐ My Review
Tags: theatre, never-again

8. 24 August February by Lisa Moore February
2⭐ My Review
Tags: Canadian, Canada Reads,

9. 29 August All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker All the Colors of the Dark
3.5⭐ My Review
Tags: thriller, audio,


message 11: by JennH, Cheerleader (new)
Sep 03, 2025 04:19PM

JennH | 1322 comments Hope you are getting closer to your goal and enjoying lots of terrific books along the way, Martha!


message 12: by Martha☀ (last edited Oct 12, 2025 02:51PM) (new)
Sep 04, 2025 10:19AM

Martha☀ | 263 comments September
68/86

1. 02 September Dogtripping 25 Rescues, 11 Volunteers, And 3 RVs On Our Canine Cross-Country Adventure by David Rosenfelt Dogtripping: 25 Rescues, 11 Volunteers, And 3 RVs On Our Canine Cross-Country Adventure
4⭐ My Review
Tags: humour, pets, rescue

2. 02 September The Yellow House by Emily O'Grady The Yellow House
5⭐ My Review
Tags: coming-of-age, thriller

3. 03 September We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman We All Want Impossible Things
3⭐ My Review
Tags: biography, grief

4. 03 September Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf Mrs. Dalloway
4⭐ My Review
Tags: classic

5. 07 September You Have Arrived at Your Destination (Forward Collection, #4) by Amor Towles You Have Arrived at Your Destination
4⭐ My Review
Tags: dystopian, short story

6. 08 September The Soul of an Octopus A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness
3⭐ My Review
Tags: science, non-fiction

7. 11 September Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid Maybe in Another Life
1⭐ My Review
Tags: crap, audio, young-adult, chick-lit

8. 19 September The Sharp End of Life A Mother's Story by Dierdre Wolownick The Sharp End of Life: A Mother's Story
⭐ My Review
Tags: memoir, athletes, adventure

9. 27 September The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell The Bone Clocks
4⭐ My Review
Tags: dystopian, audiobook, year of the tome,


message 13: by Martha☀ (last edited Nov 05, 2025 06:28PM) (new)
Oct 12, 2025 02:50PM

Martha☀ | 263 comments October
74/86

1. 06 October South Away The Pacific Coast on Two Wheels by Meaghan Marie Hackinen South Away: The Pacific Coast on Two Wheels
5⭐My Review
Tags: athletes, adventure, travel, biography

2. October The Rose Code by Kate Quinn The Rose Code
4⭐ My Review
Tags: historical, war, audio,

3. 21 October Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness
3⭐ My Review
Tags: classic, thriller, historical

4. 22 October Always Looking Up The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist by Michael J. Fox Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist
/⭐ My Review
Tags: biography, current events

5. 24 October Where There's a Will Hope, Grief and Endurance in a Cycle Race Across a Continent by Emily Chappell Where There's a Will: Hope, Grief and Endurance in a Cycle Race Across a Continent
5⭐ My Review
Tags: athlete, adventure, travel, grief

6. 25 October Blackfriars Bridge by Anthony Horowitz Blackfriars Bridge
4⭐ My Review
Tags: mystery

7. 31 October The Correspondent by Virginia Evans The Correspondent
3⭐ My Review
Tags: general


message 14: by Martha☀ (last edited Nov 28, 2025 12:27PM) (new)
Nov 05, 2025 06:30PM

Martha☀ | 263 comments November

85/86

1. 04 November What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon What the Wind Knows
4.5⭐ My Review
Tags: historical, audio, supernatural

2. 10 November Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jónasson Death at the Sanatorium
4⭐ My Review
Tags: translated, cultural, mystery

3. 07 November First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston First Lie Wins
3.5⭐ My Review
Tags: mystery, audio

4. 13 November Allie and Bea by Catherine Ryan Hyde Allie and Bea
2.5⭐ My Review
Tags: general

5. 19 November The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace Stegner The Big Rock Candy Mountain
3.5⭐ My Review
Tags: audio, historical, tome

6. 22 November Slow Horses (Slough House, #1) by Mick Herron Slow Horses
4⭐ My Review
Tags: crime, tv show,

7. 23 November Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill Five Found Dead
3⭐ My Review
Tags: mystery, audio

8. 27 November Domestique The Real-life Ups and Downs of a Tour Pro by Charly Wegelius Domestique: The Real-life Ups and Downs of a Tour Pro
3⭐ My Review
Tags: athletes, biography

9. 29 November Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney Beautiful Ugly
2⭐ My Review
Tags: mystery, audio

(view spoiler)


message 15: by Martha☀ (last edited 1 hour, 46 min ago) (new)
Dec 05, 2025 05:00PM

Martha☀ | 263 comments December

92/86

1. 03 December The Lemon Tree (Young Readers' Edition) An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan The Lemon Tree (Young Readers' Edition): An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East
4⭐ My Review
Tags:

2. 07 December Amazon Extreme Three Ordinary Guys, One Rubber Raft and the Most Dangerous River on Earth by Colin Angus Amazon Extreme: Three Ordinary Guys, One Rubber Raft and the Most Dangerous River on Earth
4⭐ My Review
Tags: adventure, athletes, travel

3. 07 December Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick deWitt Undermajordomo Minor
3⭐ My Review
Tags: canadian

4. 08 December The Salt Path by Raynor Winn The Salt Path
2⭐ My Review
Tags: biography, travel, crap

5. 13 December Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar Martyr!
4⭐ My Review
Tags:

6. 14 December Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb Wishin' and Hopin'
2⭐ My Review
Tags:

7. 20 December The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden The Safekeep
4⭐ My Review
Tags: audio, historical, lgbtq+

8. 22 December One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
3⭐ My Review
Tags: audio, current events, non-fiction, war


(view spoiler)


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The Safekeep (other topics)
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This (other topics)
Martyr! (other topics)
Wishin' and Hopin' (other topics)
Undermajordomo Minor (other topics)
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